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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Stop 50 shots why no problem

Mackenzie Skapski (CHL.ca)

A pretty quiet Tuesday evening as players start heading to the various selection camps being held for the upcoming World Under-20 championships. For those not invited it means for the next month they will be missing their team's best players and will be expected to make up for their teammate's absence.

In Prince George, goalie Mackenzie Skapski (NYR 2013 6th) and his Kootenay Ice were in town to take on the Prince George Cougars minus the Ice's leading scorer Sam Reinhart (brother of Islander prospect Griffin) and without a doubt Skapski played his best game of the season leading the Ice to a 3-1 win. The game's 1st star, Skapski stopped 51 out of 52 shots including 21 shots in the 3rd period to even his season's record at 8-8-2 2.92 goals against and a 0.905 save percentage.

For Skapski who has been struggling to find consistency, this was the right time for him to show the form that made him one of the WHL's workhouse goalies last season. The Ice could really use Skapski to get hot now.

Ryan Pulock (NYI 2013 1st) and his Brandon Wheat Kings played host to the Kamloops Blazers as the Wheat Kings have been trying to find consistency in their own game. Pulock had the primary assist on Brandon's 2nd goal of the game as the Wheat King would take advantage of a 3 goal 2nd period to earn a 5-2 win. For Pulock the assist was his 17th on the season as well as his 27th point as Brandon won their 2nd straight game.
The Duke is a star

Anthony Duclair, of the Québec Remparts, completes the trio with 7 points and a +/- of +4 in three games. Thursday against Cape Breton, the first game of their Maritimes road trip, Anthony got 3 points in a 6-3 loss. Friday, Duclair was named the 2nd star against the Mooseheads, he got 1 shorthanded goal and 1 assist. Sunday, against Charlottetown, the Remparts won 6-3, two more assists for the 3rd rounder of the New York Rangers in 2013. Duclair climbed to 10th in the league’s scoring race with 42 points in 31 games, while being 4th in goals (24).

To be honest, I thought Duclair's play should have earned him one of the stars earlier in the season but it is nice to see him finally get some recognition for this play.